Square-Enix on the long-lasting appeal of Final Fantasy IV, the 5-person party and more

A portion of a GamesRadar interview with Square-Enix’s Takashi Tokita…

GamesRadar: You have been with Square – now Square-Enix – for a very long time. Clearly, you have a very long history with FFIV. So I have to ask: why do you think it’s worth revisiting so many times?

Takashi Tokita: FFIV probably has the most remakes of any FF title, yes… The reason, I’d say, is because FFIV was made after the original batch of games on the Famicom (FFI, II, and III). To that end, FFIV implements a lot of elements from each of the previous titles, becoming sort of a “best of” compilation of those. It also set the standard for the series from that point forward. Because it has such a strong history, we’ve wanted to make it available on every platform. That way, we can reach out to new customers, as well.

GR: Why is FFIV the only game in the series that has ever had a five-person party?

TT: Actually, I’m not sure why we didn’t keep that after FFIV. I guess I understand for FFV, since we had the whole job system feature… technically, by today’s hardware specs, we could do hundred-person parties if we wanted to, but it’d be far too cumbersome.

Actually, way back in the Famicom era, Tanaka-san (the lead developer of Final Fantasy XI) wanted 10-person parties… but then it wouldn’t have really looked much like an FF game. Imagine a bunch of teeny little sprites surrounding monsters. But Tanaka-san likes little characters, because he’s a big, tall guy… he invented the whole Mini spell in Final Fantasy III, as well. Because he likes little people. *laughs*